Children's home run by Hertfordshire County Council in Dacorum

Inspection report for children’s home: SC458141 1 SC458141 Registered provider: Hertfordshire County Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This local authority home provides care for up to seven children aged between 10 and 18 years who require a period of residential care.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 5 September 2022

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC458141 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/09/2022 Full Good 24/08/2021 Full Good 09/05/2019 Full Good 16/05/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC458141 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, four children were living at the home. One child moved into the home during this inspection period. One child recently moved to a local home run by the same provider. The registered manager was on leave at the time of this inspection.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have strong relationships with children and know them well. They identify and act on cues from children to meet their needs effectively. Staff meet children’s complex communication needs well. They communicate in a way that children understand, so that children know what is happening and can make choices. Children respond well to staff and are comfortable and happy at the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm and welcoming. The garden is a positive space for children, with opportunities for sensory play. Children have chosen the decor for their rooms, making them warm and friendly. Communal areas are homely and children enjoy spending time there.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are proactive in managing children’s health needs. The children can find it hard to engage with some health professionals. Managers have identified specialists who can meet the needs of disabled children. This makes medical appointments less stressful and a better experience for the children.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to make progress. One child can now use the bathroom independently. The child’s parent said that this is something that they did not think their child would be able to achieve. Staff are supporting another child to try different foods.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children attend education provisions that can meet their needs. Staff and managers have open communication with the schools, using communication books. This makes sure that information about children is shared between the settings.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide children with a range of experiences at the home and in the community. Children choose what they would like to do. They enjoy walks, going swimming and eating out. The children have been away on holiday.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are well supported with their moves. A child who moved on from the home continues to receive support from the same staff members. Staff are providing the child with consistent care at an unsettling time.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children can spend time with their family members. Staff ensure that children can see their families and they offer support when needed. Parents say that staff keep them updated on all important information about their children. Parents’ concerns are well managed when raised. Parents praise the staff for the effort they make to ensure their children are happy and well looked after. Inspection report for children’s home: SC458141 4

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Clear and detailed risk assessments for children help staff to understand and meet the children’s needs. The manager and staff review and update risk assessments as new behaviours emerge or behaviours change. This enables staff to understand changes in behaviour and respond appropriately to these changes.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff make every effort to understand children’s behaviour. When children become upset, staff try to identify and reduce triggers. Staff recognise behaviour as a method of communication and respond to children with empathy. Staff respond effectively to children’s behaviour.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Physical intervention is rarely used because staff support children in a way that helps them to calm. When physical intervention is used, it is as a last resort. Staff record incidents of physical intervention accurately and there is good management oversight of records.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Managers respond promptly to practice concerns. They act swiftly to make referrals to the local authority designated officer and follow up on concerns and investigate when necessary. Managers follow safe recruitment processes to check the suitability of staff working with the children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has a permanent registered manager. The deputy manager is proactive in supporting the registered manager. Managers understand the children well and spend time with the children. The children are central to their planning and decision- making to create a positive home for the children. Staff gave positive feedback on the support that they receive from managers.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers consider information about children carefully before children move in. For one child, this involved meeting with her primary carer before the move. This meant that the child settled into the home well. The social worker said that this is the happiest they have seen the child.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff build good relationships with other professionals. Social workers feel well informed about how children are progressing. Parents and carers feel able to talk about their concerns with managers, who have acted on concerns promptly.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers hold regular team meetings. These are well attended by staff and enable reflection on how best to care for the children. A child and adolescent psychotherapist joins some team meetings. This gives staff access to specialist support and advice.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The induction process is thorough and helps to prepare staff for all areas of their work. New staff members receive support from experienced staff while they learn Inspection report for children’s home: SC458141 5 their roles. Managers use consistent agency staff when needed so that children benefit from familiar staff who understand how to look after them.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been times when staff have not received regular supervision. The manager was unaware of the gaps as their recording system is not being used effectively. The manager does not have a system to record which staff have achieved a relevant level 3 qualification, or when it is due. Inspection report for children’s home: SC458141 6

p.5

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff supervision and training are clearly recorded. 2 October 2023

p.6

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report for children’s home: SC458141 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hertfordshire County Council

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, Pegs Lane, Hertford SG13 8DQ

p.7

Inspectors

Amy Miles, Social Care Inspector Leah Stannard, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC458141 8 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.7

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8